Final answer:
The detailed answer provides a breakdown of historical events and massacres, discussing the complexities of assigning responsibility. It highlights specific incidents, including the Battle of the Little Bighorn, Boston Massacre, actions of the Paxton Boys, My Lai Massacre, civilian deaths in Iraq, and lynch mob violence, and indicates that factors like aggression, self-defense, and societal attitudes influence the narrative of each event.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the historical accounts provided, there are several atrocities and battles where responsibility has been debated or attributed in various ways. Specifically, the massacre for which Burdick was held responsible is not explicitly mentioned in the provided information. However, examining the historical events described:
- In the Battle of the Little Bighorn, General Custer was the aggressor, and his actions led to the death of his men and Native American scouts. The incident was initially blamed on "Indian savagery", but later reinterpretations align with Sitting Bull's assessment that the Lakota Sioux acted in self-defense.
- The Boston Massacre was portrayed as a premeditated act by British soldiers by the Sons of Liberty, although there are indications that a mob may have provoked British troops, suggesting shared responsibility between the two groups.
- The Paxton Boys were responsible for their atrocious act, with local support making it difficult to bring justice to the victims.
- The My Lai Massacre saw U.S. soldiers, specifically Lt. Calley, charged with premeditated murder. The U.S. public was divided on the responsibility for the incident, with some denying its occurrence.
- The culpability for civilian deaths in Iraq was attributed in part to the complexity of war, where enemy combatants dressed as civilians increased the risk to innocents.
- Lynch mob violence against individuals such as Fred Alexander, often condoned by the wider community, demonstrated a collective responsibility for such heinous acts.
Despite the different contexts, these historical examples underscore the complexities of attributing responsibility for acts of violence, with factors including aggression, self-defense, provocation, misinformation, and societal attitudes playing roles in shaping the narrative around each tragedy.